ASHEBORO, N.C.—Oliver Rubber Inc. recently marked its 50th year in business by inviting friends, family members and community leaders to the Asheboro plant to celebrate.
Built by Harrelson Rubber Co. in 1965, the Asheboro facility began production in 1966. It was purchased in 1982 by Oliver Rubber Inc. and then again in 2007 by Michelin North America.
"For 50 years, the Asheboro facility has manufactured Oliver Rubber's innovative and quality tread rubber products providing customers with high-value mobility solutions," said Ralph Dimenna, chief operating officer for Michelin Americas Truck Tires. "But we want to celebrate the people behind these products. Their vision and dedication has contributed to this facility's longevity and success. We are proud that Oliver's Asheboro team is part of the Michelin family.”
Oliver developed and patented precure technology in the 1960s and state-of-the-art presses in the 1970s. Since 1990, Oliver has been awarded more than 20 patents for its development of precure retreading equipment, compounds and tread designs. The machinery and equipment for applying precure retreads to truck tires is made by Asheboro's sister facility in Salisbury, N.C., Michelin said.
Among those invited to the event were Welta and Mark Harrelson, members of the Harrelson Rubber founding family, along with several Michelin executives, including: John Revell, Oliver Rubber plant manager; Philippe Sebaux, director of industry for Michelin Americas Truck Tires; and Ralph Dimenna, chief operating officer of Michelin Americas Truck Tires.